Antique Herschede Clocks

A Brief History of the Herschede Hall Clock Company

Frank Herschede was born on July 30, 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of 16, he started to work as an apprentice watch and clock repairman.

In 1877, he went into business for himself. He sold jewelry, watches, and diamonds and in 1885 he moved the store to larger quarters at the corner of Arcade and Vine. At the same time, he started to import movements and have his cases made in a cabinet shop on Front Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. The clock business expanded to the point that Frank bought out the cabinet shop in 1900.

In 1901, he exhibited in the South Carolina and West Indian Exposition at Charleston, South Carolina, where he received a gold medal for his hall clocks. This was the first of several awards for his clock making.

The factory moved from Front Street to 1011-1015 Plum Street in 1903. Several medals were won by Herschede in the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904; a gold medal for the best hall clock, a gold medal for the best hall clock cases, and a silver medal for tubular chimes.

In 1909 expanding into making clock movements. The first movement was assembled and passed final inspection on January 10, 1911. In 1913, the third melody was added to the Whittington and Westminster chimes. "Cantebury Chimes" was composed by Charles Eisen, "a gifted American pianist," especially for Herschede.

At the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the quality of the line again resulted in two major awards: grand prize was presented to the Herschede Hall Clock Company for chime hall clocks and mantel clocks, and a gold medal was awarded for the hall clock cabinets manufactured by the company.

By the early 1920's branch sales offices were opened, first in New York City, then in Chicago and San Francisco. Frank Herschede died in 1922, and Walter was named president in January of 1923.

In 1925, Walter started to work with Mr. Warren with the electric movement chime clocks. By April of 1926, the Revere Clock Company came into being.

On 1934, Walter's son, Dick Herschede, started working with his father. Many years later the plant moved to Starkville, Mississippi in May of 1960.

In 1983, Herschede implemented a plan to restructure the Herschede Hall Clock division from a manufacturer of the finished clocks to a supplier of quality tubular bell movements to the industry.

On August 21, 1984, a letter was written by: Richard L. Herschede. Jr. (President) to certify that the three clocks listed below were the last three clocks shipped from the Herschede factory in Starkville, Mississippi, and that "The Clock" Model #250 Serial # A642698-35 being the very last of the three shipped from the factory.